Improvement in shifting-eail foe caeeiages



H. F. HOLT.

Shifting-Rail.

- Patented July 2, 1867.

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.HENRY F.- HOLT, OF FREDONIA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF 3 ANDTHADDEUS G. ABBOTT, SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent No. I 66,343, dated July 2, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHIFTING-RAIL FOB. GARRIAGES.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. HOLT, of Fredonia, Chautauqua county, andState of New York, have invented a Self-Fastening Shifting-Rail forBuggy-Tops; and do hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in whichFigure I is aarear elevation.

Figure II is an, end elevation.

Figure III is a detail view of the spring-catch as seen from the bottomside.

The natureof this invention consists, first, in a shifting-rail forbuggy-tops so constructed that when it is placed in its properpcsitionupon the seat it will fasten itself firmly thereto without theuse of bolts, screws, or other devices now commonly used for thatpurpose.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of thefigures.

A represents the shiftingrail of a buggy-top, the particular shape oiwhich may be varied, according to the size and shape of the seat towhich it is intended to be attached. 13 represents the seat of thebuggy, the sides of which are shown at Z). G C represent two hooks, on'eupon each side-rail of the buggy-top. These hooks extend downwardly fromthe said rails, and are curved forward, or in a direction opposite tothe back of the scat. d cl represent two loops or rings, one fastenedfirmly to each. side of the seat B. These rings project horizontallyfrom the top of the sides 6, and so that the hooks C may be passed fromthe rear forward into these rings or sockets d, and rest therein in amanner to support the front ends of the shifting-rail. E E represent twolong flatsprings secured to the back of the seat B. The free end of eachspring has a pin or bevelled tooth, c, projecting buckwardly from theface thereof, which catches into the loops or-stapl'cs F, attached tothe back rail of the buggy topw A guard, G, is located immediately abovethe tooth e of the spring, through which the staple F passes before itis caught by the spring-stop. This guard serves the purpose ofpreventing the bolts or hooks C from slipping backward and out of therings or sockets d, and also retaining the spring-catches e within thestaples-F.

i The operation of the several parts composing my improvement isentirely automatic. The top of the bugg is simply placed upon the seat.The bolts or hooks C are firstintroduced into their respective sockets,and then the whole of the top is allowed to drop into its properposition. The spring c'atches are self-adjusting, and

need not be looked after as soon as the shifting-rail has beenplacedwhere it belongs. By slightly pressing 7 upon the ends of thesprings E the catches may be disengaged and the top lifted from the seatwithout the least trouble. The springs when in their proper position aremade to be level or flush with the surfaceoi' the back of the seat, andthis is cored out sufficiently to allow the end of the spring to reccdewithin the same whenever it is-desired to release the catch. Thus thewhole arrangement of the parts may be such as to render them almostinvisible, particularly as the shifting-rail and seat are both coveredby the trimmings.

hat I- claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

A self-fastening shifting-rail for buggy-tops, constructed substantiallyas herein described.

' HENRY F. HOLT.

Witnesses:

F. A. Lnwewonrur, B. H. MUEHLE.

